Ukraine said Russia had stepped up its shelling, hoping to capture Bakhmut on Tuesday. May 9 is Victory Day in Russia, marking the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Wagner group commander Yevgeny Prigozhin. Photo: TASS
Earlier, Ukrainian and Russian media reported explosions across the Crimean peninsula and one overnight explosion in the Black Sea city of Odessa. The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defenses detected and destroyed 22 Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea overnight.
Wagner force commander Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Friday his fighters would withdraw due to lack of ammunition and suffering "useless and unjustified" losses at Bakhmut.
But in a voice message posted on his Telegram channel, Prigozhin suggested that the Wagner group would remain in the area. "We have been promised a lot of ammunition and weapons necessary to continue further operations," he said.
Prigozhin said his units had advanced 280 metres into the city. "We are moving forward. We are expecting to receive ammunition," he added.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also said the country's forces had "received sufficient ammunition" for the war in Ukraine.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukrainian ground forces in Bakhmut, said Russia had stepped up its shelling and was regrouping its troops. "Russia still hopes to capture the city before May 9. Our task is to prevent this," Syrskyi said after visiting troops along the Bakhmut front line.
The battle for Bakhmut has been the fiercest of the conflict, claiming thousands of lives on both sides in months of fighting. Ukrainian troops have been pushed back in recent weeks, but still hold on to the strategic town.
Quoc Thien (according to TASS, Reuters)
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